During
2015 winter break I took Basia to “Bowne Printers,” a part of The South Street
Seaport Museum, located on Water Street; a working letterpress shop as well as the
craftsmanship-woodcarving studio established in 19th century New York.
Basia
sat at a special table in memory of Sal Polisi, Master Woodcarver at
South Street Seaport Museum, to write a thank you note for what she had learned
from him while watching him carving and listening stories at his
workshop.
Sal
Polisi died last January, 2015 at the age of 79.
Bowne
Printers offer variety of extraordinary printing workshops when they use the
traditional methods and historic presses that once documented marine trade for
contemporary artisanal projects. The education programs provide a remarkable
experience of the history and environment of New York port city, and an
understanding of how the port connects New York to the world. For more
information, please visit https://southstreetseaportmuseum.org/education/workshops/
call 212-748-8753 or email education@seany.org
Job
printing rose to prominence in the 19th century. New York’s businesses depended
on printed paper. Bill-heads, letterheads, posters, trade cards,
advertisements, receipts, bills of lading, and stock certificates, just to name
a few, were essential elements in business transactions. To keep up with the
ever increasing demand for this work, printers’ establishments flourished
throughout lower Manhattan – the heart of New York’s commercial and shipping
district – where they could best serve their clients: ship captains,
shopkeepers, fishmongers, chandlers, and practitioners of the hundred-and-one
other trades vital to the economy of the burgeoning port and city.
Basia
inspired by the bill-heads,
letterheads, posters, trade cards, advertisements, receipts, bills of lading,
and stock certificates chose beautifully carved letters and wrote deeply touching our
hearts massage. February 2015
